BX 

9517 

.N4 

H5 

1904 


LIBRARY  OF  PRINCETON 


JUN24  2005 


THEOLOGICAL  SEMINARY 


BX9517.N4  H5  1904 

Historical  sketch 

of  the 

origin 

and  organization  of  the 

Reformed 

Church  in  America 

and  of 

the 

Collegiate 

) 

4 


A  BRIEF  ACCOUNT 

OF  AN 

HISTORIC  CHURCH 

THE  REFORMED  CHURCH 

THE  COLLEGIATE  CHURCH 

OF  THE 

CITY  OF  NEVYORK 


^KRY  OF  PR/^ 


ISTORICAL 
SKETCH  OF 
THE  ORIGIN 
AND  ORGANIZATION 
OF  THE  REFORMED 
CHURCH  IN  AMERICA 
AND  OF  THE  COLLEGF 
ATE  CHURCH  OF  THE 
CITY  OF  NE^YORK. 


TUB1I5HED    BY     THE  CONSISTORY. 
THIRD  EDITION 
A.  D.  1904 


Cl)i0  l^isitoncal  ^iictcl) 

prrparfD  b^  t\)t  Con0i0tor^  of  tlje  Collegiate 

€t\nu\),  10  presenteD  iDttl)  tbe  com^ 

plimentfi;   of  ttie   ^migter0, 

CiDer0  ano  2[>eaconsf, 

3it)S  Object 

tflf  to  0et  fortb  conci^el^  matters  of  tnteresit  re^ 

flfpecting  tbe  UeformeU  Cljurcb  tn  l^ol:; 

lanD  anti  :3imenca  anU  of  tbe 

Collegiate  Cburcb  of 

3!t  i)S  Dcjiirablc 

tljat  tbe  people  be  attached  to  tlje  Cburclj— 

not  so  mucb  b^  pergonal  bonbg,  a0 

b^   an    intelligent    apprecia^ 

tion   of    it0    bififtor^, 

faitt),    usages 

anO  spirit* 


Cl)e  iS^eformet)  Cl)urcl) 
in  J^oUantJ. 


^d^  an  early  period  of  the  Reformation  the  Protes- 
\^1  tants  on  the  Continent  were  divided  into  two 
"^^  bodies,  the  Lutheran  and  the  Reformed.  The 
latter  became  dominant  in  the  Netherlands,  where  they 
maintained  their  religious  liberties  only  after  a  long, 
costly  and  bloody  struggle  against  the  gigantic  power 
of  Philip  IL,  during  which  they  suffered  all  that  men 
could  suffer.  So  calamitous  was  their  condition  before 
the  eighty  years'  war  that  they  gave  themselves  the 
name    of   the    Church     under    the 

'^^'t^e^'cross"'*'''     ^^^^s,  and   their  symbol   was  ''A 
Lily  amidst  Thorns." 

In  1566,  while  war  was  raging,  the  deputies  of  the 
churches  met  in  Antwerp  and  adopted  the  Belgic  Con- 
fession, which  continues  to  this  day  to  be  one  of  the 
doctrinal  standards  of  the  Reformed  in  Holland. 

About  the  same  time  the  Heidelberg  Catechism, 
which  had  been  issued  (1563)  in  German  by  the  Pala- 
tine Elector,  Frederick  III.,  was  translated  into  Dutch 
and  widely  circulated  in  the  Netherlands. 

Doctrinal  differences  having  arisen  among  the  Re- 


AN    HISTORIC   CHURCH 


Authors 

Heidelberg- Catechism 


'^^^'...GOURT?^^^" 


AD-1562 


formed,  a  Synod  was  convened  by  the  States-General 
at  Dort  (1618,  1619,)  to  which  all  the 
Synod  of  Dort.  Reformed  Churches  of  Europe  (save 
Anhalt)  were  invited  to  send  delegates,  and  all  did 
so;  only  the  four  selected  by  the  French  were  for- 
bidden by  the  King  to  attend.  The  British  deputies 
were  George  Carlton,  Bishop  of  Llandaff;  John 
Davenant,  Professor  of  Theology  at  Cambridge; 
Samuel  Ward,  of  Sidney  College,  Cambridge,  and 
Joseph  Hall,  afterward  Bishop  of  Norwich.  Walter 
Balcanqual,  a  Scotch  presbyter,  was  also  deputed 
by  King  James  to  represent  the  Scottish  Church. 
This  body  expressed  its  conclusions  in  Canons  under 
five  heads  of  doctrine ;  and  these  Canons  were  accepted 
by  the  National  Synod.  After  the  foreign  delegates 
had  withdrawn,  the  same  National  Synod  revised  the 
Belgic  Confession  and  the  Heidelberg  Catechism  and 
the  Rules  of  Church  Government,  and  also  set  forth 
liturgical  forms  for  use  in  public  worship. 


AN   HISTORIC   CHURCH 


The  Church  of  Holland,  thus  fully  organized,  soon 
became  distinguished  for  learning,  soundness  in  the 
faith  and  practical  godliness.  She  not  only  maintained 
a  close  correspondence  with  sister  churches,  but  often 


THE   SYNOD    OF   DORT 
FROM    ORIGINAL    PAINTING   IN   STADHUIS,    DORDRECHT,    HOLLAND 


had  the  advantage  of  the  presence  of  their  distin- 
guished men,  since  Holland  was  the  common  refuge 
of  all  the  persecuted  believers  in  Europe.  Huguenots. 
Waldenses,  Covenanters  and  Puritans  found  a  safe 
asylum  on  her  hospitable  shores. 


Cl)e  iReformet)  Cljurcl; 
tn  :^mertca. 


C^I'N    1609   Hendrick   Hudson,  in  the   ship   Half- 

TI     Moon,  entered  New  York  Bay  and  sailed  up 

y-^^     the  North  River.     In  16 14  a  trading  post  was 

established   on  Manhattan  Island,  but  it  was  not  till 

1623  that  a   permanent  agricultural 

The  Early  Settlers.  ^, ,  ,  , 

^  settlement  was  made. 

The  early  settlers  brought  with  them  the  Bible^  the 
Catechism  and  two  persons  called  Krank-be:{^oekers  or 
Zieken-troosters  (consolers  of  the  sick),  viz.,  Sebastian 
Jansen  Krol  and  Jan  Huyck,  who,  in  the  absence  of  a 
minister,  gathered  the  people  together  and  read  to 
them  select  passages  of  the  Scripture  suitably  arranged 
for  instruction  and  comfort.  But  in  1628  the  Rev. 
Jonas  Michaelius  arrived,  and  in  the 
summer  of  that  year  formally  or- 
ganized a  church  which  has  had  continuous  existence 
to  this  day,  and  is  with  reason  supposed  to  be  the 
oldest  Protestant  church  on  this  continent* 

In  1664  the  colony  surrendered  to  the  British,  and 
New  Amsterdam  became  New  York;  but  this  fact  did 


Church  Organized. 


*The  Collegiate  Church.     See  page  14. 


AN    HISTORIC   CHURCH 

not  affect  the  rights  of  the  church,  which  under  the 
new  government  retained  all  its  former  privileges. 

The  conquerors  required,  however,  to  have  worship 
in  their  own  tongue,  and,  accordingly,  the  chaplain  of 
the  English  forces  officiated.     But  as  he  had  no  proper 
place  in  which  to  celebrate  divine  service  an  arrange- 
ment was  made  by  which  he  could 

Church  in  the  Fort.  . .  . ,        ^t         ,       •        .1         i-     ^  >» 

use       the    Church    m    the    Fort. 
After  the  Dutch  had  ended  their  own  morning  wor- 
ship the  Church  of  England  service  was  read  to  the 
Governor  and  the  garrison.     This  custom   continued 
for  more  than  thirty  years. 

Dutch   churches   were   organized   in    1642   at   Fort 
Orange  (Albany);  in   1654  at  Flatbush,   L.  1.,  and  in 
1660  in  Brooklyn.     Others  were  afterward  established 
along  the  Hudson  River  and  in  the 
er     urcies.        Mohawk  Valley,  as  well  as  in  New 
Jersey  and  Pennsylvania;  and  by  1771  the  number  had 
reached  seventy.     The  growth  of  the  denomination 
was  retarded  by   its   dependence   upon    Holland   for 
ministers,  and  by  the  retention  of  the  mother  tongue 
in  public   service   when   English   was   generally  and 
increasingly  spoken.     Up  to  1772  the  churches   had 
been  subject  to  the  control  of  the  ecclesiastical  author- 
ities  in  Holland,   but  in   that  year 
Independence  Estab-    ^^^  connection  was  Severed  and  the 

American  Church  was  made  inde- 
pendent and  self-governed. 

While  this  Church  accepted  the  standards,  polity 
and  usages  derived  from  Holland,  she  has  always  wel- 
comed additions  to  her  ministry  or  membership  from 
other  evangelical  bodies.     Not  a  few  of  these   have 


AN    HISTORIC   CHURCH 

become  strongly  attached  to  her  character  and  order, 

and  by  their  loyalty  have  greatly  increased  her  strength 

and  influence.     Her  chief  character- 
Characteristics.  ■  X-        U  U  J  -1 

istics  have   been   and  are,  jealousy 

for  doctrinal  truth,  insistence  upon  an  educated  min- 
istry, unyielding  attachment  to  her  own  views  of 
faith  and  order,  and  a  large  charity  for  all  others  who 
hold  to  Christ,  the  Head. 

In  the  community  of  Christian  churches  she  is  well 
described  by  the  terms — semi-liturgical,  non-prelatical. 

DOCTRINAL   STANDARDS. 

These  are  (in  addition  to  the  three  early  creeds, 
the  Apostles',  the  Nicene  and  the  Athanasian) : 

1.  The  Belgic  Confession,  originally  drawn  up  by 
the  martyr  Guido  de  Bres  and  corresponding  in  con- 
tents and  spirit  with  those  of  all  other  Reformed 
Churches  in  Great  Britain  and  the  Continent. 

2.  The  Heidelberg  Catechism,  the  work  of  Ursinus 
and  Olevianus.  Being  a  confession  of  experience  as 
well  as  of  faith,  it  has  been  translated  into  well-nigh 
twenty  languages,  and  more  widely  diffused  over  the 
world  than  any  other  catechism. 

3.  The  Canons  of  the  Synod  of  Dort.  These  are  the 
carefully  prepared  articles  on  what  are  known  as  the 
Five  Points  of  Calvinism.  Although  clear  and  decided 
in  character,  they  are  so  genial  in  tone  and  expression 
as  to  have  won  favor  among  all  the  Reformed. 

GOVERNMENT. 

The  Reformed  Church  in  America,  while  recog- 
nizing with   all    the    other   Reformed   Churches   the 

10 


AN    HISTORIC   CHURCH 

threefold  ministry,  yet  makes  four  classes  of  church 
officers  : 

1.  Ministers  of  the  Word. 

2.  Teachers  of  Theology  (Professors). 

3.  Elders. 

4.  Deacons. 

The  two  former  are  of  the  same  order,  but  with 
different  functions.  The  two  latter  are  chosen  for  two 
years,  but  are  eligible  for  re-election  at  the  close  of 
their  term. 

The  spiritual  government  is  in  the 

Minister  and  Elders.       ,         ,       rxuru  xxuujr 

hands  of  the  hlders,  at  the  head  of 
whom  in  the  local  church  stands  the  Minister. 

The  specific  duty  of  the  Deacons 
is  to  care  for  the  poor  of  the  church.* 


Deacons. 


Consistory. 


OFFICIAL   BODIES. 

The  Minister,  Elders  and  Deacons  constitute  the 
Consistory,  which  has  control  of  all 
temporalities. 

Above  the  Consistory  is  the  Classis,  which  consists 
of  one  Minister  and  one  Elder  from 
each  church  in  a  certain  district. 

Above  the  Classis  is  the  Particular  Synod  com- 
posed of  lay  and  clerical  delegates 

Particular  Synod.         ^  ^   .  ,  ^  ^, 

from  a  certam  number  of  Classes. 
The  supreme  judicatory  is  the  General  Synod,  which 
meets  annually,  and  is  composed  of 

General  Synod.  ,   ,        ^       r  n  ^1      ^1 

delegates  from  all  the  Classes. 


*  In  his  "  Christian  Institutions,"  Dean  Stanley  remarks  concerning  the  order  of 
Deacons  in  the  early  Church  that  "The  only  institution  which  retains  the  name  and 
reality,  is  the  Diaconate  as  it  exists  in  the  Dutch  Church.  ' 

I  I 


AN   HISTORIC   CHURCH 
WORSHIP. 

The  Reformed  Church  in  America,  like  all  the  Re- 
formed Churches  of  the  Continent,  has  a  Liturgy,  the 
use  of  which,  however,  is  in  part 
'  ^^^^  optional.     The   use   of  the  Offices 

for  the  administration  of  Baptism  and  the  Lord's  Sup- 
per, for  Ordination  and  for  Discipline,  and  the  obser- 
vance of  the  Order  of  Public  Worship  are  made  obli- 
gatory by  the  constitution.  In  regard  to  other  ob- 
servances there  is  freedom.  Some 
churches  carefully  observe  Good 
Friday,  and  some  of  the  great  festivals  of  the  church 
year,  such  as  Christmas,  Easter,  Ascension  Day  and 
Whitsun-Day  ;  others  do  not. 

EDUCATIONAL    INSTITUTIONS. 

Theological  Seminaries. 

1.  At  New  Brunswick,  New  Jersey. 

2.  At  Holland,  Michigan. 

3.  At  Arcot,  India. 

Colleges  and  Academies 

1.  Rutgers  College  (formerly  Queen's),  at 

New  Brunswick,  New  Jersey. 

2.  Hope  College,  at  Holland,  Michigan. 

3.  North-western    Classical   Academy,    at 

Orange  City.  Iowa. 

4.  Pleasant  Prairie  College,  at  German  Val- 

ley, Illinois. 

12 


AN    HISTORIC   CHURCH 
AGENCIES 

1.  Board  of  Direction.  Is  the  custodian  of  the  funds 
belonging  to  the  General  Synod. 

2.  Board  of  Foreign  Missions.  Maintains  stations 
in  Arcot,  India;  Amoy,  China;  Japan  and  Arabia. 

3.  Board  of  Domestic  Missions.  Aids  feeble 
churches,  especially  at  the  West,  and  seeks  to  estab- 
lish new  ones  where  they  are  needed. 

4.  Board  of  Education.  Assists  young  men  in  ob- 
taining an  education  for  the  Ministry. 

s.  Board  of  Publication.  Issues  denominational  and 
other  evangelical  literature,  and  maintains  an  extensive 
book  depository. 

6.  The  Widows'  Fund  provides  for  the  widows  and 
children  of  such  Ministers  as  have  had  an  interest  in  it. 

7.  The  Disabled  Ministers'  Fund  is  for  the  relief  of 
Ministers  who  are  laid  aside  by  age  or  infirmity. 

8.  The  Church  Building  Fund  aids  in  erecting 
Churches  for  new  enterprises  not  yet  self-supporting. 

9.  Woman' s  Board  of  Foreign  Missions.  Seeks  to 
carry  the  Gospel  to  women  and  children  in  India, 
China,  Japan  and  Arabia. 

10.  Woman's  Executive  Committee  of  the  Board  of 
Domestic  Missions.  Aids  in  building  parsonages,  and 
otherwise  forwarding  the  cause.  It  also  maintains 
missions  among  the  American  Indians  and  the  Ken- 
tucky Mountaineers. 

The  offices  of  all  these  Boards  are  located  in  the 

RhFORMED  Church  Building, 
25  East  Twenty-second  Street,  New  York, 

where  is  also  the  office  of  the  Missionary  League  of 
the  Society  of  Christian  Endeavor. 

13 


AN    HISTORIC   CHURCH 


PERIODICALS 


The  following  Periodicals  are  issued  in  the  interest 
of  the  Reformed  Church  in  America: 

The  Christian  Intelligencer,  weekly. 
The  Mission  Field,  monthly. 
The  Mission  Gleaner,  bi-monthly. 
The  Day  Star,  monthly — for  the  young. 


Having  outlined  the  origin  and  organization  of  the 
denomination,  it  remains  to  speak  of  the  growth  of 
its  oldest  church,  commonly  known  as  the  "Collegiate 
Church."  This,  as  has  been  stated,*  was  constituted 
in  1628,  but  was  not  incorporated  until  1696,  when 
William  III,  of  England,  granted  a  royal  charter  under 
the  title,— 

*'The  Reformed  Protestant  Dutch  Church 
OF  THE  City  of  New  York," 
a  title  which  has  never  been  altered. 

Each  of  the  churches  has  a  tablet  on  which  these 
facts  are  concisely  stated. 


m  ifisiE  mrrm  ^m  Ymi 
m^mwm  ^wmm  IPWee  MsBSwr 


FAC-SIMILE    OF    ONE    OF   THE    BRONZE   TABLETS 


*  See  page  8. 


'4 


Collegiate  IReformeD  Cl)urcl) 

1904^ 

CHE  Collegiate  Church  maintains  at  present  eight 
places  of  worship.  These  are  under  the  care 
of  one  Consistory.  This  body  has  the  general 
powers  of  all  like  bodies  in  the  Reformed  Church. 
The  twelve  Elders  and  twelve  Deacons  who  constitute 
the  Consistory  are  chosen  from  the  membership  wor- 
shiping in  the  several  churches. 

In  the  early  history  of  New  York,  when  the  popula- 
tion began  to  increase  and  a  second  church  became 
necessary,  and  one  minister  could  no  longer  attend  to 
the  duties  required  of  him  by  a  double  service,  the 
Consistory  called  a  second  minister,  who,  being  duly 
installed,  became  the  colleague  of  the  first.  From  this 
comes  the  name  by  which  the  church  is  familiarly 
known — The  Collegiate  Church. 

For  very  many  years  these  ministers  and  their  suc- 
cessors preached  in  rotation.  As  the  population  in- 
creased and  became  more  extended,  it  was  deemed 
best  to  discontinue  this  custom;  and  when  tendering 

'5 


AN    HISTORIC    CHURCH 

a  call  to  a  new  minister,  to  designate  the  special  church 
in  which  he  was  to  labor. 

There  is  still,  however,  but  one  Collegiate  Church 
of  New  York,*  although  there  are  now  several  church 
edifices.  The  regularly  installed  ministers  are  still 
colleagues  and  preside  in  turn  at  the  monthly  meetings 
of  the  Consistory.  Those  who  unite  with  the  Col- 
legiate Church  of  New  York  should  therefore  feel  an 
interest  in  her  general  welfare,  as  the  different  congre- 
gations are  but  parts  of  the  same  church,  members 
of  one  body,  pervaded  by  a  common  life,  and  having 
a  common  interest. 

The  records  of  baptisms,  members  and  marriages 
have  been  continued  and  preserved  from  1639. 

It  is  interesting  to  know  that  there  are  two  very  old 


REPRODUCTION    OF   THE    ANCIENT    BAPTISMAL    BASINS 
1706-1744 

silver  Baptismal  Basins  of  antique  design  in  possession 
of  the  Church.     On  the  border  of  one  is  engraved  the 


*  There  is  also  in  the  upper  part  of  the  city  The  Collegiate  Church   of  Harlem^ 
which  is  a  distinct  organization,  although  connected  with  the  denomination. 

16 


AN    HISTORIC    CHURCH 

seal  of  the  Church  and  the  date — -1744;    also  an  in- 
scription, of  which  the  following  is  a  translation: 

"  To  inlierit  eternal  life,  in  after  life,  O  man, 

Be  cleansed  in  Christ's  blood,  and  thus  before  death  die. 

Who  in  God's  Son  does  live,  life  everlasting  has, 

And  lives  through  the  true  faith,  who  in  that  love  does  live." 

The  other  basin  bears  the  simple  inscription:  "The 
North  Church — 1706." 

These  sacred  relics  of  those  early  days  are  both  in 
good  preservation,  and  may  continue  to  serve  their 
purpose  through  centuries  yet  to  come. 

The  following  sketch  of  the  church  which  was 
planted  on  Manhattan  Island  by  the  first  settlers, 
shows  an  unbroken  line  of  Ministers  and  officers  for 
over  two  hundred  and  seventy-five  years. 

The  first  religious  services  on  Manhattan  Island, 
which  in  1628  resulted  in  the  organization  of  a  church, 
were  held  in  a  large  upper  room  over  the  mill  which 
ground  the  colonists' grain.  In  the  Spring  of  1633,  the 
Rev.  Everardus  Bogardus  having  succeeded  Domine 
Michaelius,  a  church  was  erected,  a  plain  wooden 
building,  on  the  banks  of  the  East  River,  on  the  site 
now  known  as  j^  Pearl  Street. 

It  is  interesting  to  record  the  fact  that  the  first  Elder 
of  the  Collegiate  Church  was  Peter  Minuit,  the  Director 
General  of  New  Netherland.  He  was  chosen  to  that 
office  when  the  Church  was  organized  in  1628. 


3^  Qyi-i 


FAC- SIMILE    OF    SIGNATURE    OF    PETER    MINUIT 
>7 


AN    HISTORIC    CHURCH 

In  1642,  during  the  rule  of  Governor  Kieft,  the 
Colony  had  so  far  increased  that  a  new  church  was 
imperatively  needed.  It  was  built  of  stone  with  a  roof 
of  heavy  split  oaken  shingles.  It  had  a  conspicuous 
tower,  which  was  surmounted  with  a  weathercock. 

On  one  of  the  old  houses,  No.  4  Bowling  Green, 
near  the  Battery,*  was  once  a  large  bronze  tablet  with 
the  following  inscription: 

"The  Site  of  Fort  Amsterdam, 

BUILT  IN  1626. 

Within  the  fortifications 

was  erected  the  first 

SUBSTANTIAL    ChURCH    EDIFICE 

ON  THE  Island  of  Manhattan." 

This  Church  was  70  feet  long,  52  feet  wide  and  16  feet 
high,  with  a  peaked  roof  and  tower.  *'  The  Church  in 
the  Fort,"  as  it  is  often  called,  was  then  known  as  St. 
Nicholas  Church.  It  accommodated  the  people  for 
over  fifty  years,  its  stone  walls  often  serving  as  a  rally- 
ing place  and  refuge  in  many  an  alarm  of  Indian  foray 
and  massacre.  On  the  front  of  the  church  was  a  stone 
tablet  with  this  inscription: 

''An.  Dom.  MDCXLII., 
W.  KiEFT  DiR.  Gen.  Heeft  de  Gemeente 

DESE   TEMPEL    DOEN    BOUWFN." 

"A.  D.  1642,  W.  Kieft  being  Director-General,  has 
caused  the  congregation  to  build  this  temple." 

On  the  bell  which  hung  in  the  church  tower  was 
inscribed :  "Dulcior  E  nostris  iinnitihus  resonat  aer. 
P.  Hemony  me  fecit  1674."  \ 

*  The  new  U.  S.  Custom  House  is  being  erected  on  this  site  (1904). 

t  "  The  air  resounds  sweeter  from  our  ringing.     P.  Hemony  made  me." 

18 


AN   HISTORIC   CHURCH 

The  illustration  on  page  19  is  a  fac -simile  of  an 
original  drawing,  in  its  ancient  frame,  in  possession 
of  the  New  York  Historical  Society.  It  was  made  by 
Laurens  Hermansz  Block  and  shows  New  Amsterdam 
with  the  ''Church  in  the  Fort"  as  seen  from  the  ship 
"  Lydia"  in  1650.  An  illustration  is  also  given  on  page 
21  of  the  original  drawing  accompanying  the  manu- 
script of  the  two  Labadist  travelers  who  visited  New 
York  in  1679,  twenty-nine  years  later. 

By  1687,  however,  the  old  church  had  become  too 
small  for  the  increasing  numbers.  Steps  were  there- 
fore taken  by  the  Consistory  to  build  a  new  church  on 
what  was  then  called  Garden  Street,  now  Exchange 
Place.  The  land  on  which  the  edifice  was  erected  was 
adjacent  to  the  orchard  and  flower  garden  of  the  widow 
of  Domine  Drisius.  The  structure  was  of  brick  with 
a  steeple  on  a  large  square  foundation,  so  as  to  admit  of 
a  room  over  the  vestibule  for  the  meetings  of  the  Con- 
sistory. By  some  authorities  it  is  claimed  to  have  been 
the  finest  church  edifice  then  in  the  colonies,  it  was 
dedicated  in  1693.  The  windows  were  long  and  nar- 
row and  fitted  with  small  panes  of  glass  set  in  lead, 
on  which  were  burned  the  coats-of-arms  of  the  princi- 
pal parishoners.  The  bell,  pulpit  and  furniture  of  the 
old  church  were  transferred  to  the  new,  and  many 
escutcheons  of  leading  families  hung  against  the 
walls.  For  plate,  the  people  contributed  silverware 
and  money,  which  was  sent  over  to  the  silver  workers 
of  Amsterdam,  who  hammered  out  for  them  a  com- 
munion set  and  a  large  baptismal  basin. 

The  first  church  organ  used  in  New  York  sounded 
its   notes   within   these  walls,  for  in   1720  Governor 

20 


21 


AN   HISTORIC   CHURCH 

Burnet    brought    one   over   and  presented   it  to   the 
Consistory. 

It  is  a  memorable  fact  that  the  Rev.  William  Vesey, 
the  first  Rector  of  Trinity  Church,  was  inducted  into 
that  office  in  this  building,  Trinity  Church  not  being 
yet  completed.  At  the  request  of  the  English  Gov- 
ernor two  Ministers  from  the  Dutch  Church  assisted 
in  the  service. 

The  Garden  Street  Church,  often  called  the  South 
Dutch  Church,  did  not  long  figure  as  the  principal 
church.  Another,  quite  as  notable  in  the  history  of  the 
city,  was  erected  in  1729,  by  the  order  of  the  Consis- 
tory, on  Nassau  Street,  between  Cedar  and  Liberty 
Streets,  to  which  they  gave  the  name  of  the  New 
Dutch  Church,  and  the  other  naturally  became  known 
as  the  Old  Church.  These  names  were  retained  for 
forty  years,  until  it  was  decided  to  erect  still  another 
farther  north,  when  the  new  church  was  designated 
the  Middle  Church  and  the  others  respectively  the 
South  Church  and  North  Church,  by  which  names 
they  were  always  afterward  known. 

The  Old  South  Church  continued  in  active  use 
until  1766,  when  it  was  enlarged  and  repaired.  A 
generation  later,  in  1807,  having  stood  a  hundred  and 
fourteen  years,  it  was  taken  down  and  a  more  com- 
modious edifice  erected  on  its  site.  This  building  was 
entirely  destroyed  in  the  great  conflagration  of  1835. 

During  the  early  history  of  the  Collegiate  Church 
the  services  were  conducted  in  the  Dutch  language 
and  the  order  of  public  worship  conformed  to  that  of 
the  Mother  Church  in  Holland.  The  fore  singer,  or 
clerk,  whose  place  was  at  a  desk  beneath  the  pulpit, 

23 


THE    FIRST    GARDEN    STREET    CHURCH,     1693 
(old  south  church) 


23 


AN    HISTORIC   CHURCH 

or  in  one  end  of  the  deacon's  pew,  began  the  morning 
service  by  admonishing  the  people  to  "  Hear  with  rev- 
erence the  Word  of  the  Lord"  ;  he  then  read  the  Ten 
Commandments,  and  announced  the  Psalm  to  be  sung. 
During  the  singing  the  Minister  entered,  stood  rev- 
erently for  a  few  moments  at  the  foot  of  the  pulpit 


THE    SECOND    GARDEN    STREET    CHURCH,     1807 
(south  church) 


stairs  engaged  in  silent  prayer,  then  ascended  the  pul- 
pit and  continued  the  service. 

He  preached  with  the  hour  glass  before  him,  know- 
ing that  if  he  exceeded  the  limit  it  would  be  the  duty 
of  the  clerk  to  remind  him  of  it  by  three  raps  of  his 
cane.     At  the  conclusion  of  the  sermon  the  clerk  in- 

24 


AN   HISTORIC   CHURCH 

serted  in  the  end  of  his  staff  the  public  notices  to  be 
read  and  handed  them  up  to  the  Minister.  This  duty 
performed,  the  deacons  rose  in  their  pews,  the  Minister 
delivered  a  short  homily  on  the  duty  of  remembering 
the  poor,  and  the  deacons  passed  through  the  congre- 
gation, each  bearing  a  long  pole,  on  the  end  of  which 


GER.    VAN    WAGENEN 

VOORSANGER  (fORE  SINGEr)   IN    I733 

a  small  black  velvet  bag  was  suspended  to  receive  the 
offerings. 

The  afternoon  service  was  begun  as  in  the  morning, 
by  the  clerk,  when  the  Apostles'  or  Nicene  Creed  was 
read  instead  of  the  Commandments.  At  the  close  of 
every  service,  when  the  Minister  descended,  the  elders 
and  deacons  stood  to  receive  him,  and  each  gave  the 

25 


AN    HISTORIC   CHURCH 

right  hand  in  token  of  approval.  When  the  Lord's 
Supper  was  administered,  the  communicants  stood 
around  the  Communion  table,  which  was  placed 
below  the  pulpit,  the  Minister  addressing  each  mem- 
ber as  he  handed  the  elements,  or  the  clerk  reading 
aloud  a  suitable  chapter  from  the  Prophecy  of  Isaiah  or 
the  Gospel  of  St.  John. 

The  order  of  worship  now  in  use  is  in  accordance 
with  the  revised  Liturgy. 

The  custom  of  collecting  the  alms  in  bags,  appears 
to  have  been  continued  until  after  the  Revolution, 
when  several  members  of  the  church  presented  silver 
collection  plates  to  the  Consistory.  Each  plate  bears 
the  name  of  a  different  donor,  the  name  of  the  church, 
and  the  date  of  the  gift — 1792.  They  are  still  in  use 
every  Sunday. 

Of  the  Collegiate  Churches  the  Middle  Dutch  Church 
plays  the  most  important  part  in  the  history.  It  was 
a  spacious  edifice,  one  hundred  by  seventy  feet  within 
the  walls,  its  ceiling  being  an  entire  arch  without 
pillars.  It  had  a  bell  tower  at  the  north  end,  and  the 
spire,  as  usual,  was  surmounted  with  a  weather- 
cock. It  was  in  its  day  the  scene  of  several  interesting 
events. 

Here  it  was  that  preaching  in  the  English  language 
was  first  introduced  in  the  Dutch  Church.  During 
the  Colonial  days  the  services  were  conducted  in  the 
language  of  the  Netherlands  ;  but  in  April,  1764,  a 
change  was  made  in  response  to  the  request  of  a  large 
number  of  those  who  worshipped  in  this  place.  The 
first  sermon  in  English  was  preached  by  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Laidlie,  a  graduate  of  the   University  of  Edinburgh, 

26 


^0  l/iejCo/iouraUe 

RIP  VAN  DAME  7 

Eebuced  Fac-Similb  or  Piii.Nx  PuBtisiiLD  173L 

Tngravcd  byVT.  Howi-a^b. 
THE    OLD    MIDDLE    CHURCH,    NASSAU    STREET,     1 729 


AN    HISTORIC   CHURCH 

who  had  just  been  installed  as  one  of  the  Collegiate 
Ministers. 

On  September  i6,  1776,  as  a  result  of  the  Battle  of 
Long  Island,  the  British  took  possession  of  the  city. 
One  of  their  tlrst  acts  was  to  seize  the  churches,  de- 
spoil them  of  their  furniture  and  turn  them  into  hospi- 
tals, riding  schools,  barracks  or  prisons.  This  was  due 
to  the  loyalty  of  the  Dutch  to  the  Continental  cause. 
The  entire  interior  of  the  Middle  Church  was  de- 
stroyed, leaving  only  the  bare  walls  and  the  roof.  It 
was  then  used  as  a  prison  and  afterward  as  a  riding 
school  by  the  British  dragoons.  After  the  Revolution 
it  was  restored  and  refurnished  and  services  were  re- 
sumed. It  was  kept  in  constant  use  until  1844,  a 
total  period  of  one  hundred  and  fifteen  years. 

On  the  corner  of  Nassau  and  Cedar  Streets,  a  bronze 
tablet  marks  this  historic  spot.     It  is  thus  inscribed : 

"  Here  stood  the  Middle  Dutch  Church  erected  1729 

MADE  A  British  Military  Prison  1776 

Restored  1790 

Occupied  by  U.  S.  P.  O.  1845-75 

Taken  down  1882." 

Probably  the  next  in  interest,  of  the  Collegiate 
Churches,  is  the  one  built  in  1769,  on  William  Street, 
corner  of  Fulton.  This  Church  was  the  first  one 
erected  exclusively  for  English  services.  While  it 
stood,  it  was,  therefore,  a  memorial  of  the  great  tran- 
sition which  the  community  made  from  the  tongue  of 
Grotius  and  William  the  Silent,  to  that  of  Milton  and 
Hooker.  When  the  building  was  taken  down  in  1875, 
a  metallic  plate  was  found  under  the  pillar  which  sup- 


THE    NORTH    CHURCH,    FULTON    STREET,     1 769 


AN    HISTORIC   CHURCH 


THIS  CHURCH  "WAS  £UILTBY  THE  COTHGRBGAXION 
OF  THE  REFORMED  PROTESTANT  DUTCH  CHURCH  llT 

THE  City  of  NEW'foRK  roRETSGLTSH  Seruice  UUDEPLTHE 

fNSPECTIOlT    OFACOMMITTE  OF 

Elders  JdeacottS 

petermarschaie:  Tsaac'Soseuelt. 

Peter  iott  4driait  bancker 

cohn^Bogert  andrew'^arschale: 

TheodorusVait  "WycX  Sarret  abeei 

ANDREW  B  REE  S TED  lU    CARPEWTERAITD  PROIECXOR 
loHN    STAGG  glASTER    j^AS  ON  AND 'ALEX  BATES 

^    TOE  FIRST  Stone  WAJ  XAip  fiJLY  2  lySyB-i 

M^  lACOBUS  ROSEUELT  &N  £LBER 
TRE  -WAIIS  EUIIT  TORECEIUETHE  ROOF  ITJNE  XJ IJO^ 
,    THESE   PILLARSREARED  I'uNE  2|    |  ^^^ 
^HE  FIKStEnGIISIH  MINISTER  FOR  THE  OUTCH 
CpNGREG'ATIOTT  THE  REIT    ARCHIBALD  lAIDLIE  17^4 
jEACB'BEWITHENtTHlS    SACRED    PLACE 
^  And  holy  ,  GIFTS    ANP  HEAIIENLYGRACEi 

Tobias  vanzandt  cleric  gj^zzl  fecit 


FAC-SIMILE    OF   THE    METALLIC   PLATE 


ported  the  gallery  nearest  the  pulpit,  upon  which  is  set 
forth  a  brief  history  of  the  Church,  and  its  projectors. 
This  plate  now  attests  the  great  historical  fiict  referred 
to,  and  a  fac-simile  of  this  very  interesting  relic  is 
shown  above.  The  Church  was  a  large  stone  edifice 
in  the  Roman  style  of  architecture,  with  a  com- 
manding tower.  The  ten  Corinthian  pillars  which 
supported  the  ceiling  were  noticeable;  at  the  top  of 
each  of  them  were  carved  and  gilded  the  initials  of  the 


50 


AN    HISTORIC  CHURCH 


AN    HISTORIC    CHURCH 

Since  i8so  the  Collegiate  Church  has  erected  four 
edifices,  all  of  which  are  now  standing.  Each  one  is 
a  centre  of  active  Christian  work  adapted  to  the  loca- 
tion of  the  church. 

fiftl)  0t)fnue  anu  tiriuent^^nmtl)  Street* 

The  church  at  the  corner  of  Fifth  Avenue  and 
Twenty-ninth  Street  was  opened  for  worsliip  in  i8s4. 
It  is  built  of  Hastings  marble,  in  the  Romanesque 
style  of  architecture.  It  has  a  massive  clock  and  bell 
tower,  terminating  in  a  spire  two  hundred  and  fifteen 
feet  from  the  ground,  which  is  surmounted  by  a 
weathercock  (six  feet  six  inches  high),  after  the  cus- 
tom of  the  earlier  churches.  The  interior  has  twice 
undergone  thorough  repairs  and  redecorating.  The 
recent  alterations  were  made  in  1891,  when  stained- 
glass  windows  were  put  in;  the  pulpit  was  rearranged 
and  a  new  organ  added,  which  is  connected  by  elec- 
tric wires  with  the  grand  organ  in  the  tower. 

In  1878  a  most  interesting  service  took  place  in  this 
building  on  the  occasion  of  the  celebration  of  the 
Quarter-millennial  Anniversary  of  the  Collegiate 
Church,  when  the  clergy  from  the  Episcopal,  Methodist, 
Baptist,  Presbyterian  and  Congregational  Churches 
brought  greetings  and  congratulations. 

In  the  court-yard  stands  the  bell  cast  in  Amster- 
dam in  1795  for  the  old  North  Church  on  Fulton 
Street. 

The  Rev.  David  J.  Burrell,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  has  min- 
istered to  the  congregation  worshiping  here,  since  May 
24,  1 89 1.* 

*  For  other  clergy  officiating  at  this  church,  see  page  50. 

34 


THE    CHURCH    ON    FIFTH    AVENUE    AND  TWENTY-NINTH    STREET 

DEDICATED   OCTOBER    II,     1854 


35 


AN   HISTORIC   CHURCH 

j?iftl)  Bbenue  anu  f  ort^^eigljtt)  ©treet. 

The  church  at  Fifth  Avenue  and  Forty- eighth  Street 
was  dedicated  in  1872.  Its  style  is  the  decorated 
Gothic  of  the  fourteenth  century,  the  flying  buttresses 
and  the  elaborate  carving  about  the  entrances  being 
especially  noteworthy.     The  spire  is  one  of  the  highest 


THE  HISTORIC  BELL.       PRESENTED  BY  COLONEL  ABRAHAM  DE  PEYSTER 

and  most  graceful  in  the  city.  In  the  tower  hangs  the 
old  historic  bell  cast  in  Amsterdam  in  1731  and  rung 
for  many  years  in  the  tower  of  the  old  Middle  Dutch 
Church  on  Nassau  Street.  When  the  city  was  cap- 
tured by  the  British,  the  bell  was  taken  down  and  se- 
creted, but  was  replaced  after  the  evacuation.  In  the 
spires  of  the  different  churches  in  the  march  north- 
ward it  has  been  rung  on  all  national  fete  days,  and  it 
still  calls  the  worshipers  to  service  every  Sunday.  In 
the  Consistory  room  may  be  seen  the  large  portraits 
in  oil  of  all  the  ministers    in    the   succession,   from 

5^ 


THE  CHURCH  ON  FIFTH  AVENUE  AND  FORTY-EIGHTH  STREET 

DEDICATED   NOVEMBER    28,    1872 


37 


AN    HISTORIC    CHURCH 

Domine  Du  Bois,  who  in  1699  began  his  ministry  in 
this  city  and  preached  in  the  "Church  in  the  Fort," 
down  to  the  present  day.  Here  also  is  kept  the 
Church  Library,  which  was  established  for  the  pur- 
pose of  preserving  and  recording  books,  manuscripts 
and  papers  which  are  of  historic  interest. 

The  Rev.  Donald  Sage  Mackay,  D.D.,  has  ministered 
to  the  congregation  worshipping  here,  since  January 
22,  1899.* 

g>econD  aibenue  anU  g^cticntl)  Street* 

In  189 1  two  churches  were  erected,  each  to  supply 
a  special  need.  In  order  to  carry  on  aggressive  work 
in  the  populous  portion  of  the  city  "  below  Fourteenth 
Street"  a  church,  with  parish  house  attached,  was 
built  on  Second  Avenue  and  Seventh  Street,  furnished 
with  all  the  modern  appliances  for  this  special  work. 


THE    COAT-OF-ARMS    OF  JOHN    HARPENDINCK 

The  parish  house  contains  reading-room,  class-rooms 
and  a  well-equipped  gymnasium.  As  a  unique  feature 
of  the  church  architecture  it  is  well  to  note  the  l-jeauti- 
ful  memorial  windows  which  receive  their  only  light 

*  For  other  clergy  officiating  at  this  church  see  page  50. 

38 


THE   NEW   MIDDLE    CHURCH    ON    SECOND    AVENUE   NEAR   SEVENTH    STREET 

DEDICATED  JUNE   26,    1 892 


39 


AN    HISTORIC    CHURCH 

by  means  of  electricity.  The  large  rose  window  is  in 
memory  of  the  long  line  of  deceased  ministers.  The 
memory  of  the  ''  illustrious  men  who  laid  the  founda- 
tions of  Church  and  State  in  the  Metropolis  of  the  na- 
tion "  is  here  perpetuated  by  three  beautiful  Mural  Tab- 
lets. The  persons  thus  memorialized  are  :  Peter  Minuit, 
the  First  Colonial  Governor,  A.D.  1626,  and  one  of  the 
two  elders  chosen  when  the  church  was  organized, 
A.D.  1628  ;  Sebastian  Jansen  Krol  and  Jan  Huyck,  The 
Krankenbezockers  (Visitors  of  the  Sick),  A.D.  1626  ; 
and  Jonas  Michaelius,  First  Minister,  A.D.  1628.  The 
quaint  coat-of-arms  of  John  Harpendinck  is  preserved 
in  this  place.  It  is  treasured  as  commemorative  of  his 
munificent  gift  of  land,  bequeathed  to  the  Collegiate 
Church  in  1723.  This  ancient  relic  hung  for  many 
generations  in  the  Old  North  Church,  on  Fulton  Street, 
above  the  pulpit. 

The  Rev.  John  G.  Fagg,  D.D.,  has  ministered  to  the 
congregation  worshiping  here,  since  January  12,  1896.* 

OTrs?t  Cut)  ^t3enue  aiiU  ^etienti^.^rtientl)  Street* 

The  other  church  erected  in  1891,  and  the  last  one 
dedicated,  is  on  West  End  Avenue  and  Seventy-sev- 
enth Street.  This  was  built  to  accommodate  the  large 
number  of  families  who  were  moving  into  that  section 
of  the  city.  The  Flemish  style  of  architecture  em- 
ployed is  historically  appropriate.  The  corner-stone 
is  inscribed :  "Organized  A.  D.  1628 — Erected  1891." 

The  interior  is  particularly  beautiful.  It  is  a  good 
example  of  Dutch  architecture  adapted  to  modern 
uses:  the  roof  is  of  heavy  dark  timber  beams,  the  sup- 

*For  other  clergy  officiating  at  this  church  see  page  50. 

40 


>     00 


AN    HISTORIC   CHURCH 

porting  arches  rest  on  pillars  of  purple  Knoxville  mar- 
ble. The  pulpit  is  a  handsome  piece  of  carved  oak. 
the  panels  showing  the  coat-of-arms  of  the  Reformed 
church,  and  the  seal  of  the  Collegiate  Church.  The 
armorial  window  at  the  south  end  is  worthy  of  de- 
tailed examination. 

The  Rev.  Henry  Evertson  Cobb,  D.D  ,  has  minis- 
tered to  the  congregation  worshiping  here,  since  Jan- 
uary 8,  1893.* 


Besides  the  churches  enumerated,  the  Consistory  has 
under  its  care  three  congregations  on  the  West  Side. 

tn^ljirt^.fourtlj  Street* 

307  WEST  THIRTY-FOURTH  STREET. 

The  congregations  formerly  worshiping  in  the  De 
Witt  Chapel  on  Twenty-ninth  Street,  and  the  Thiity- 
fourth  Street  Reformed  Church  were  consolidated  in 
1895,  and  the  entire  membership  is  now  enrolled  in 
the  Collegiate  Church.  The  work  is  under  the  care  of 
Rev.  Robert  W.  Courtney,  who  assumed  charge  in 
IQ04.  and  is  conducted  in  the  building  erected  in  i860 
by  the  Thirty-fourth  Street  Reformed  Church,  which 
was  acquired  by  the  Collegiate  Church  (in  1895)  at  the 
time  of  the  consolidation. 

^nov  ©emonaU 

405-409  WEST  FORTY-FIRST  STREET. 

This  edifice,  one  of  the  most  beautiful  and  complete 
church  buildings  in  New  York,  was  finished  and  dedi- 
cated in  i8q8,  and  is  the  third  building  erected  by  the 
Consistory  for  the  accommodation  of  this  work,  which 

'"■  For  other  clergy  officating  at  this  church  see  page  50. 

42 


THE    CHURCH    ON    WEST    THIRTY-FOURTH    STREET,   NEAR    EIGHTH    AVENUE 

ERECTED  i860 


43 


AN    HISTORIC    CHURCH 

has  had  an  unbroken  and  prosperous  existence  since 
1858.  The  building  is  of  an  English  Gothic  design 
with  a  front  of  Indiana  limestone.  The  interior  is 
graced  by  two  handsome  memorial  windows.  In  the 
Church  and  Sunday-school  rooms  there  is  accommoda- 
tion for  over  two  thousand  persons,  with  ample  facilities 
for  the  spiritual,  moral  and  intellectual  improvement 
during  the  week  of  all  who  come  within  the  reach  of 
this  Church.  The  Rev.  Edward  G.  W.  Meury  is  in 
charge. 

The  work  was  formerly  carried  on  in  the  Chapel  on 
Ninth  Avenue  near  Thirty-eighth  Street,  which  was 
the  second  structure  erected  on  that  site  by  the  Colle- 
giate Church  for  the  Knox  Memorial. 

J^ermil^e  CtjapeL 

416    WEST    FIFTY-FOURTH    STREET. 

The  work  of  this  Chapel  is  carried  on  in  the  new 
building  of  the  Helping  Hand  Association  on  Fifty- 
fourth  Street,  west  of  Ninth  Avenue.  It  is  supported 
by  the  congregations  of  the  Forty-eighth  Street  Church 
and  the  West  End  Avenue  Church.  The  Rev.  Win- 
fred  R.  Ackert  is  in  charge. 

jTulton  Street  ptu^tt  a^ectiug^ 

I  13    FULTON    STREhT, 

This  daily  prayer  meeting  at  noon  has  now  a  world- 
wide reputation.  It  was  begun  in  18^7.  Its  oppor- 
tunities -and  privileges  have  ever  been  open  to  all 
friends  of  Christ  of  whatever  name. 

The  expenses  incident  to  the  maintenance  of  this  ser- 
vice have  always  been  borne  by  the  Collegiate  Church. 

44 


KNOX    MEMORIAL,    ON    FORTY-FIRST     STREET,    NEAR    NINTH    AVENUE 

DEDICATED    |8<)8 


45 


AN    HISTORIC   CHURCH 


CHROUGHOUT   her  long   history  the   Collegiate 
Church  has  always  been  greatly  blessed  in  her 
Ministry. 

Conspicuous  among  the  ministers  of  the  last  cen- 
tury are  Dr.  Laidlie,  the  first  English  preacher,  a  man 
of  consummate  discretion  united  with  glowing  zeal  ; 
Dr.  Livingston,  the  first  Professor  of  Theology  at 
Queen's  College,  a  man  of  wonderful  influence  and 
varied  usefulness  ;  and  Dr  Linn,  Chaplain  of  the  House 
of  Representatives  in  the  First  Congress  under  the 
Federal  Constitution,  renowned  for  his  eloquence. 

Jonas  Michaelius, 
everardus  bogardus, 
Johannes  Backerus, 
Johannes  Megapolensis, 
Samuel  Drisius, 
Samuel  Megapolensis,  . 
Wilhelmus  Van  Niewenhuysen, 
Henricus  Selyns, 
Gualterus  Du  Bois, 
Henricus  Boel, 
Johannes  Ritzema, 
Lambertus  De  Ronde,  . 
Archibald  Laidlie, 
John  Henry  Livingston, 
William  Linn, 

Gerardus  Arense  Kuypers, 
John  Neilson  Abeel, 
John  Schureman, 

46 


{circa) 

1628-16^^ 

I 63 3- I 647 

1 647- 1 649 

I 649- I 669 

1652-1673 

I 664- I 668 

1671-1682 

1 682- 1 701 

169^-1751 

1713-1754 

1 744- 1 784 

1751-1784 

1 764- 1 779 

1 770-1 8 12 

1 785- 1 805 

1 789- 1 833 

1795-1812 

1809-18 1.'' 

FORMER    MINISTERS    OF    THE    COLLEGIATE    CHURCH 
(copied  from  the  portraits) 


AN    HISTORIC   CHURCH 


Jacob  Brodhead, 
Philip  Milledoler, 
John  Knox, 

Paschal  Nelson  Strong, 
William  Craig  Brownlee, 
Thomas  De  Witt, 
Thomas  Edward  Vermilye, 
Talbot  Wilson  Chambers, 
Joseph  Tuthill  Duryea, 
James  Meeker  Ludlow, 
William  Ormiston, 
Edward  Benton  Coe, 
David  James  Burrell. 
Donald  Sage  Mackay, 
Henry  Evertson  Cobb, 
John  Gerardus  Fagg, 


1809- 
1813- 
1816- 
1816- 
1826- 
1827- 
1839- 
1849- 
1862- 
1868- 
1870- 
1879- 
1 89 1  - 
189Q- 
1903- 
1903- 


1813 

1825 
i8s8 
182s 
i860 
1874 
1893 
1896 
1867 
1877 
1888 


/Assistant  Ministers. 

John  Hutchins,    .... 
Henry  Evertson  Cobb, 
John  Gerardus  Fagg, 
Ferdinand  Schureman  Schenck    . 


I 892-1 895 
1 89 3- 1 903 
1 896- 1 90 3 
1897-1899 


The  portraits  of  the  former  Ministers,  which  are  here 
reproduced  include  all  those  now  hanging  in  the  Con- 
sistory room.  The  Church  has  never  been  able  to 
procure  those  of  an  earlier  date. 


48 


FORMER  MINISTERS  OF  THE  COLLEGIATE  CHURCH 
(copied  from  the  portraits) 


AN    HISTORIC   CHURCH 

flDffictatfng  Clergt* 

A.  1).  1904 


The  Rev.  Edward  B.  Coe,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  Senior 

Minister. 
The  Rev.  David  Jas.  Burrell,  D.D.,  LL.D. 

The  Rev.  Alfred  E.  Myers,  Assistant. 

The  Rev.  Otto  L.  F.  Mohn,  Assistant. 
The  Rev.  Donald  Sage  Mackay,  D.D. 

The  Rev.  Andrew  Hageman,  Assistant. 
The  Rev.  Henry  Evertson  Cobb,  D.D. 

The  Rev.  Herman  C.  Weber,  Assistant. 
The  Rev.  John  Gerardus  Fagg,  D.D. 

The  Rev.  Floyd  Decker,  Assistant. 
The  Rev.  Winfred  R.  Ackert. 
The  Rev.  Edward  G.  VV.  Meury. 
The  Rev.  Robert  W.  Courtney. 

Divine  service  is  held  every  Lord's  Day,  morning 
and  evening. 

The  mid-week  service  is  on  Wednesday  evening. 

The  "  Fulton  Street  Prayer  Meeting"  is  held  daily  at 
noon. 


50 


AN    HISTORIC   CHURCH 


(Crplauatiou  of  tl)c  iHottocsi 


CBmblrm  of  tt)f  Krformeti  Cl)urcb  in  America 


NISI  DOMINUS,   FRUSTRA. 

Without  the  Lord  all  is  vain. 


"  EENDRACHT  MAAKT  MACHT. " 

Union  or  Harmony  makes  strength. 


feral  of  t\)t  Collegiate  Ctiurc^ 

Jehovah. 


SIG -ECCL-PROT- BELG- REFORM -NEO- 
EBORACIENSIS. " 

Seal  of  the  Reformed  Protestant   Belgic 
Church  of  New  York. 


*  VERITATE. 
With  Truth. 


BIBLIA. 
Bible. 

5' 


'  PIETATE. 
With  Piety. 


THE    COLLEGIATE    SCHOOL 

241-243    WbST    SEVENTY-SEVENTH    STREET 


^2 


Cl)c  Collegiate  ^cljool 

3MMEDIATELY  adjoining  the  Church  on  Seventy- 
seventh  Street  is  a  picturesque  building  for  the 
use  of  the  Collegiate  day  school. 

This  school  has  a  continuous  history  running  back 
to  the  earlv  settlement  of  Manhattan  Island.  In  1626 
Peter  Minuit  commenced  his  administration  as  Director- 
General  of  the  New  Netherland,  and  the  building  of 
this  city  really  dates  from  that  time.  Within  seven 
years  thereafter,  or  in  1635,  with  Wouter  Van  T wilier 
Director-General  of  the  Colony,  came  Adam  Roelant- 
sen,  the  first  schoolmaster,  who  founded  this  school, 
which  is  now  the  oldest  educational  institution  in 
existence  in  America. 

Although  over  two  hundred  and  seventy  years  old,  it 
is  still  in  a  most  flourishing  condition.  It  stands  for  a 
great  and  important  idea,  the  idea  that  education  and 
religion  can  never  be  dissociated  from  one  another. 
The  connection  of  the  school  with  the  church  was 
characteristic  of  the  early  Reformed  Churches. 


53 


Cl^e  gear  TBoofi* 


^JITHE  Consistory  issues  a  Year  Book  every  Spring, 
^^  which  contains  a  detailed  account  of  the  work 
carried  on  throughout  the  Church,  a  list  of  the  Church 
officers,  and  a  biographical  sketch  of  one  of  the  Min- 
isters. 

Copies  may  be  had  by  application  at  the  office  of 
the  Collegiate  Church,  1 13  Fulton  Street. 


?4 


Princeton 


Theoloqical  Seminary  Ubraries 


1    1012  01214  2271 


